Dry-cell tamping apparatus



H. T. LANG.

DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I3, 1917.

Patented Nov. 8', 1921.

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I i II I I II 11v VEN TOR. HJI 9AM I J fl/a w ATTORNEY H. T. LANG.

DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1911.

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DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1917.

1,396,642. Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

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TTORNEY H. T. LANG.

DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I3, 1917.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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R 5 0 W f I i H 6 Y H. T. LANG.

DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1917.

1,396,642, Patented Nov. 8,1921.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR. T. LANG BY ATTORNEY H. T. LANG.

DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I3, 1917.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 6- IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY H. T. LANG.

' DR-Y CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-H.191].

1,396,642, Patented Nov.- 8, 1921.

I0 SHEETSSHEET 7.

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TTOR NE Y H. T. LANG.

DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-13, i917.

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DRY CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13. 1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

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INVENTOR.

LANG

A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY '1. LANG, OF FREMONT, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY,

. INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DRY-CELL TAMPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed October 13. 1917. Serial No. 196.541.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY T. LANG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Sandusky and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dry-Cell T amping Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for tamping the active material into the container of a dry cell and around the central electrode. The improvements set forth in the following description are applicable to tamping machines in general, but are especially suited for use in connection with apparatus of the type shown in U. S. Patent 641,546 to C. T. Richmond and M. M. Zellers, and in my Patent 1,241,226 dated Sept. 25, 1917.

For purposes of explanation, the improvements embodied in this invention will be described with reference to the foregoing inventions. Machines embodying the improvements set forth in the preceding inventions, while automa ic to a considerable extent, required certain manual operations, and it is the object of my invention to eliminate these.

The operation of a tampin machine as described in my prior Patent No. 1,241,226 is as follows: An electrode is placed in retaining clips by the operator who then places a container on a carriage and starts the tamping device in operation and raises the can carriage by pressing a foot lever which places hydraulic apparatus in operation for producing this movement. The mix is then fed manually and the tamping is done automatically. \Vhen the cell tamped to the required height the carriage is rapidly lowered by means of the hydraulic mechanism of my prior improvement. At this point the cell is removed and the operation repeated. It will thus be evident that the placing of the can, insertion of electrode, feeding the mix and removal of the cans are manual operations.

The object of the present invention is to provide mechanism for automatically feeding the electrodes, mix, cans and for removing the cans after the completion of the tamping operation.

Other objects will appear in the appended description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus with the electrode funnel and ratchet feed omitted to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a side view taken from the left end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the other side.

Fig 3. is a rear view.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the can feeding disk and adjoining mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the tamping platform and part of the hydraulic mechanism with the canfeed removed.

Fi 7 is an enlarged plan view of the can eed mechanism.

Fi 8 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 7 taken from the left.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the clutch when the pulley is not keyed to the shaft.

Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line A-A of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line B-B of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is the same section as shown in Fig. 10 with the operating arm raised.

Fig. 13 is the same section as shown in .Fig. 11 with the operating arm raised.

Fig. 14 is a front view of the electrode funnel and ratchet feed.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view showing an arrangement for tipping the carbons.

Fig. 16 is a detail view with certain parts in section illustrating the mix feed slide and the arrangements for starting and stopping it. Fig. 17 is a cross section of the clutch controlling the mix feed. Fig. 18 is a detail view taken from the rear of Fig. 1 illustrating certain levers for 0 erating the mix feed controlling clutch. ig. 19 is a detail view of a portion of the mix feed levers. Fig. 20 is an enlarged cross section of the mechanism for operating the mix pushers. Fig. 21 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 20. Fi 22 is a cross section on the line CC of ig. 20.

Fig. 23 is a detail view showing the shape of the cam.

As shown in Fig. 1, the supporting framework consists of a horizontal bench 1 having a plurality of legs 2. A reciprocating tamping mechanism 3 and mix feed which will be later described more fully, is carried by four upright members 4 spaced apart and resting upon the platform 1 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Below the platform 1 the hydraulic mechanism is attached, which is essentially the same as that shown and described fully in Patent No. 1,241,226. In the present case the main cylinder 5 and the valve cylinder 6 are made integral and the admission and removal of fluid is controlled by the inter nal construction of the cylinder and valve, which embodies the elements described in my Patent 1,241,226 previously referred to. Piston rod 7 of main cylinder 5 and vertical connecting rods 8 and 9 are all connected together at the bottom by means of cross bar 10 which has a projection 11 for a purpose to be referred to later. The rods 8 and 9 pass through the platform and are connected at the upper ends by a second cross bar 12 to which'the tamping platform 13 is attached by suitable means such as shown in Fig. 6: This consists of downwardly projecting lugs 14 having an eye 15 there-between bolted to the center of the cross bar 12. A pin passes through the lugs and eye. The downward movement of the carriage is controlled by the engagement of collars 16 on rods 8 and 9 with a projecting plate 16' fastened to the bottom of main cylinder 5.

The electrode feed consists of a stationary hollow tube 17 which passes through the tamping mechanism 3 and is supported by means of an arm 18 bolted to one of the uprights 4. Two horizontal projecting members 19 and 20 spaced apart on the tube 17 a distance a little greater than the length of an electrode, have openings therein ada ted to admit rods 21 and 22 respectively. pper rod 22 has a head portion 23 which slides in a hollow tube 24 having a spring 25 therein. A rod 26 is threaded in the other end of tube 24 and is pivoted at point 27 of a T- shaped member 28 and rod 21 is similarly pivoted at point 29 of member 28. The central point of member 28 is attached to a projection 31 and is rotatable about the supporting point 30.

Carbon electrodes are supplied to the tube 17 from an electrode hopper 130 suitably attached to the frame of the apparatus by means of a channel-131 and brace 132. The channel is mounted in an inclined position and fastened near the top. to the frame by a second brace 133. Electrodes are removed from the hopper and carried up the channel by means 0 a conveyer 134 moving inside the channel. The chain conveyer 134 passes around sprocket wheels 135 and 136 loosely fitted on suitable shafts 137 and 138 respectively. The chain is stepped forward to feed electrodes over the top of the conveyer and drop them into a funnel 139 placed thereunder and connecting with the tube 17. The arrangement for operating the chain conveyer electrode feed consist-s of a ratchet and pawl 140 and 141, the ratchet 140 being keyed to shaft 138 and the pawl pivoted to an arm 142. One end of the arm 142 is loosely fitted on shaft 138 and the other end is pivotally connected to the operating lever 33 which also serves to reciprocate rods 21 and 22.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15 the electrodes are tipped, so that the end having the binding post is upward, by means of two curved strips 143 and 144, fitted close to opposite sides of the conveyer. These strips are fastened at the upper end of the conveyer, one strip 144 retaining or holding the electrode against the conveyer chain and the other strip 143 forcing the end adjacent thereto away from the conveyer, and thus permitting it to be released before the end adjacent retaining member 144. Arm 32 of the T 28 is raised and lowered to operate the rods 21 and 22 and feed electrodes. The mechanism for imparting motion to arm 32 consists of a rod 33 having two stops 34 and 35 projecting therefrom, located so that the arm is engaged alternately by the stops. The lower end of feed rod 33 is connected at an intermediate point 36 of a link 37 pivoted to the frame at 38. At the free end link 37 is provided with a depending pin 39 which rojects into the path of the can carriage and is raised thereby.

Guide 43 aflixed to the vertical members 4 coiiperates with grooves in the back 42 to permit up and down movement of the tamping platform.

A disk 44 having four notches 45 spaced 90 apart is slidable on a vertical shaft 46 having a longitudinal keyway 47 cooperating with a suitable opening in the center of the disk to cause the disk to rotate with the shaft. A portion of the lower surface of the disk rests upon the tampingplatform 13 and the up and down movements of the disk correspond therewith. Disk 44 is intermittently rotated in a manner which will be fully described hereafter.

means of belt 54 with another pulley 55 on countershaft 56. A belt conveyer 57 for removing the tamped cells passes around two wheels 58 and 59, the former being mounted on countershaft 56 and the latter on the shaft 60. The upper surface of the belt is prevented from sagging by a platform 61 upported by suitable framework upon the main platform 1. A guide rail 62 placed on each side of the belt prevents the cells from tipping off.

A similar belt conveyer 63 having guide rails 62 for feeding the empty cans to the disk is driven from the first conveyer by means of a chain 64 which engages the toothed wheel 65 on shaft and a second similar wheel 66 on shaft 67. The wheels and 66 are inclosed by a sheet metal guard 68. A horizontal sheet metal plate 69 attached to standards 52 fits under the disk 44 and has openings for the passage of the tamping platform 13 and the conveyer belts 57 and 63 ('Figs. 5, 7 and 8). The ends of guide 62 which are extended at 68 support the plate. The plate supports the cans during the time they are being moved from the conveyer 63 to the tamping platform 13 and from the tamping platform 13 to the belt 57, and the guides 68 maintain the cans in the notches 45 of the wheel 44.

In Figs. 7 and 8 mechanism is shown which permits one can to escape from the can feed belt 63 and holds back the others until the mechanism is released again. This consists of a short pivoted lever 70 having a slanting surface 71 which is engaged by a projection 72 on the carriage 42 on the down stroke for a period long enough to allow one can to escape from the belt 63. Vertical movement of the lever is permitted by pivoting it at one end 73 of a Y-shaped member 74 which turns about the central point 75. On the down stroke a pin 73' in member 74 engages one end of an arcuate slot 7 0' in lever 70, and the end 73 is turned outward around the pivot point 7 5. On the up stroke the pin 73 turns in the slot 7 O and allows the lever 70 to be raisedwithout turning arm 73 about pivot 75. A spring 76 is fastened at one end to the point 77 and at the other end to a rod 78 projecting from the framework of the apparatus. The linkwork described is connected with and operates another arm 79 pivoted at 80 through a linkwork composed of an arm 81 projecting in the opposite direction to arm 79. To prevent the cans from tipping a single arm 80 is fastened to post 80 below the holding arm 81. The end 82 of this arm is pivotally connected'to a link 83 rotatable about the supporting projection 84. The other end of'link 83 i pivotally connected to link 85 which is in turn pivoted to a lever 86 fastened rigidlv to the Y-shaped member at the central point 7 5.

Shaft 46 previously referred to passes through the platform and is supported from the frame by means of a collar 87 resting upon a suitable support 88. Intermittent rotation through angles of is imparted through a spur gear 89 on haft 46 meshing with spur gear 90 on shaft 91. This shaft is held by means of collars 92 resting on projections 93. At its lower end a miter gear 94 is fastened which meshes with an intermittent miter gear 95 on horizontal shaft 96. A second pulley 97 (Fig. 2) on the rear end of shaft 51 and a belt 98, together with pulley 99 serves as driving means for shaft 96.

Only one-fourth of the surface of bevel gear 95 has teeth thereon and as the diameter of gears 94 and 95 is the same, shaft 75 only rotates through 90 each time that shaft 96 makes a complete revolution. Spur gears 89 and 90 are also of equal diameter so that shafts 46 and 91 are intermittently rotated through quadrants. A brake 100 fastened to the legs 2 is in frictional engagement with shaft 46 to take up lost motion and prevent the momentum from carrying the disk 44 through more than 90.

Pulley 99 is keyed to shaft 96 at certain times for a suflicient period to produce one complete revolution of said shaft. During other periods the pulley rotates as an idler. The mechanism for accomplishing this is operated by the projection 11 of cross arm 10 which engages lever 100 pivoted at 101 to standards 102 carrying supporting shaft 103. The other end of this lever is bent at 104 to avoid pulley 99 and has a horizontal end 105 which rests upon a pin engaging lever 106. (Figs. 2 and One end of lever 106 is pivoted at 107 and the other end 108 is are shaped and pointed to fit into a slot 109 of clutch 110. (Figs. 9 and 10.) A rod 111 screwed into lever 106 has a projecting collar 111. Between this collar and the end 105 of lever 100 is arranged a spring 112 which is under compression. Pulley 99 has a notched hub portion 113 adapted to receive a key 114 which is forced into the notches of the hub by means of a spring 115. The key 114 slides in a slot 116 in clutch which is permanently keyed to the drive shaft 96. To connect the continuously rotating idle pulley 99 with drive shaft 96 the key is forced into one of the slots of hub 113 by the spring upon raising the end 108. This fits in a tapered groove 117 of the key until the levers 100' and 106 are raised. The disengagement is effected by dropping these levers whereby the curved end 108 withdraws the key 114 when the groove 117 and key come into the original position. to shaft 96 to stop the shaft quickly after pulley 99 is uncoupled. The shaft is then held from rotation until the, lever 100 is A brake 118 is fastened again raised by the projection 11 at the end of the cross bar 10. The contact period of the cross bar projection with the lever 100 is quite brief and the shaft 96 does not complete an entire revolution before the rear end of lever 100' and the free end ofv 7 parts 121 and 122 are controlled by the pistened to shaft 155.

ton rod 119 of a vlave which is operated by means of a cam 120 on shaft 96.

A slide rod 123 having a handle 124C passes through guides 125 and at the rear end has an inclined surface 126 adapted to engage the rod 111 when pushed back to maintain the lever 106 down, whereby the index disk and valve control is kept out of operation until the operator its ready to start. The movements of the slide 123 are limited by means of stops 127.

The tamping and mix feeding mechanism employed in my apparatus embodies certain of the features and details of the mix feed shown and described in a patent to J. H. Sangers, No. 1,285,301 and for purposes of explanation this will be described in more or less detail to illustrate the manner in which the improvements shown therein are incorporated in the present invention as Well as certain improvements and modificatoins thereto.

The driving means for the tamping mechanism 3 consists of a belt which passes around pulley 151. An idle pulley 152 is also provided to operate in conjunction with the driving pulley. 153 is a fly wheel mounted on shaft 154: which; is used to drive a shaft 155 at right angles thereto. belt 156 passes over pulleys 157 and 158 which are used to twist the belt so that it will stay on pulleys 159 and 160 of shafts 154 and 155 respectively. The mix is automatically fed from a hopper 161 by means oi. a slide 162 laced at the bottom of the hopper. To facilitate the feeding of the mix and prevent it from clinging to the inclined surface 163 a movable slide 164; is operated by means of a rod 165 and eccentric 166 tas- A third slide 167 is also reciprocated in a similar manner by means of an eccentric 168 on shaft 155. These slides which are jigged back and forth prevent the mix which adheres to the walls for bridging over and stopping the feeding of material to the slide 162.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 2 the slide 162 fits into a groove in the bottom 169 of the hopper 161 and is connected by means of a pin 170 to a link 171 and an angular arm 172. Link 171 is pivotally connected to an neeacaa arm 173 which reciprocates on a projection 171 fastened to the hopper. At the front end the arm 172 has a small wheel 175 which moves in grooves in a plate 176 fastened to the bottom of the hopper. The ,Wheel is held against the bottom by means of a spring 177 which fits between the arm and the head 178 of a pin 179. The pin is fastened at one end to the slide and passes through a slot 180 in the bottom of the hopper (see Fig. 16). The mix is fed. into a guide 181 fastened to the hopper in front of an opening 181' through which the mix is pushed. This guide member has a vertical back 172', a curved front 173', and the sides 174:, are inclined planes. A spout 175 is fastened to the bottom and has an internal diameter slightly larger than that of the dry cell can. The mixis fed from the hopper into the can which is fitted in the spout 17 5. The apparatus for operating the mix feed slide and the controlling clutches is shown in Figs. 2* and 16 to 19 and comprises a lever 182 rotatable through a small angle on a shaft 183 fitted in bearings 184: of a frame 185 (Fig. 2). Levers 182 and 173 are con nected together by means of a link 186. A rod 187 passes through lever 182-at a point intermediate to the ends and a crank arm 189 fastened to a circular ring 188 embraces the rod. Eccentric 190 keyed on shaft 155 rotates in the ring and imparts a reciprocating movement to the rod 187 and slide 162, connected therewith by the link mechanism just described. Slides 16A and 167 are operated in the same manner by eccentrics on shaft 155.

A device for pushing the min: out of the tunnel or spout 181 into the can is also operated from rod 187. A member 191 similar to a '1 pipe connection is fitted on each end of a rod 187 and a rod 192 passes through the alined openings. A spring 193 is titted between a stop 191 and each side of the .5

so that when rod 187 is moved back and one end of a bell crank lever 195 mounted at the center on a pin 196 which passes through a projection 197 bolted. to one of theangular uprights. The free end 197 of the bell cranks has a vertical slit 197 and a horizontal slot 198 therein. A rectangular lug 199 (Fig. 1) having an opening therethrough, is fitted ineach slot 198. A slide member 200 having a perforated lug 200 is connected between each pair of rectan ular lugs by means of a pin 201 passing t .erethrough. As shown in Fig. 21, the guideways for slides 200 each consists of two op: positely placed channels. one 201 being fitted into an outer channel 202 which is fastened in a suitable manner to the uprights of the framework. The inner channel in each case is not rigidly fastened to the outer channel but is held from downward movement due to gravity, by means of a spring 203 which does not, however, prevent the inner channel from being moved when sufiicient force is applied. This spring does not, however, prevent downward movement of the slide 200 which is controlled entirely by the movement of the bell crank 195. A suitable manner of mounting the spring consists in forcing it under a pin 204 passing through projections 205 on the outer channel 202.

As shown in Fig. 20 the upper ends of the slide 200 and channel 201 are connected to a mix pusher 206 by means of pins. A pin 207 passes through the sides 208 of the mix pusher and through a slot 209 out in a projection 210 of the slide 200. The channel 201 is also connected to the sides of the mix pusher by means of two pins 211 each of which fits into one side of the channel and one side of the mix pusher. Although only a single mix pusher has been described, it will be evident from Fig. 1 that two are provided, forcing the mix down from opposite sides of the guide.

To start and stop the mixfeed at the proper time a clutch arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 15 to 18 is operated by means of mechanism connected with the can carriage 42. The carriage is connected to the piston rod 7 which has a collar or projection 213 adapted to contact with a pin 214 of a lever 213 pivoted to a support 215 depending from the table 1. Pivoted rod 217 is connected at the other side of the pivot point and operates the mix feed clutch.

The rod 217 passes through a block 218 (Figs. 17, 18 and 19) pivoted between projections 219, 220 of a member 221. On each side of the block, stops 222, 223 are fastened to turn the member 221 through a small angle on the shaft 183 upon which it is mounted. The member 221 is thus raised and lowered so that the end 224 may act upon the horizontal arm 225 of a bell crank lever 226 having a vertical arm 227. The bell crank lever is mounted on a horizontal pin 228 inserted in bearings 229 projecting from the frame 185.

r The downward movement of the rod 217 which corresponds with the upward movement of the carriage, places a clutch into action to operate the mix feed. The clutch, shown especially in Figs. 16 and 17, is mounted on shaft 153 and consists of a portion 230 slidably keyed onto the shaft so that it always rotates therewith. The rotating clutch member 230 which has a plurality of alternate lugs and notches, is

pushed into engagement with a sleeve 231 also having similar notches and lugs, against the action of two springs 232 which tend to keep the parts 230 and 231 apart. The springs are mounted on pins 233 which have a stop 234 at one end and pass through a collar 235 of the shaft bearing 236. The other ends of the spring pins 233 are fitted into holes of a ring 237. Ring 237 has a sliding fit on the rotating clutch member 230 and is held thereon by a nut 238 which presses it against a collar 239. A clutch control lever 240 is pivoted at one end 241 to the frame and at the center has an opening 242 (Fig. 16) which surrounds the ring 237 with which it is connected by means of suitable pins 243. The free end 244 of the lever 240 contacts with the end 227 of the bell crank lever and controls the inward movement of the rotating clutch member 230.

The operation of the clutch is also dcpendent on the position of a locking member 245 fitted on a shaft 246 carried in suitable projections from the frame. At the other end of shaft 246 a projecting arm 247 (Fig. 1) is adapted to be engaged by a projection 248 of the can carriage (Fig. 6) just before the can is filled with mix to the proper height. A spring 249 (Fig. 2) wound around the shaft and fastened at one end to the frame and at the other end to the shaft, tends to keep both the arm 247 and the locking member 245 in a raised position except when the projection 248 is in contact with arm 247. lVhen the locking member 245 is in a raised position it engages a lug 250 of the clutch control lever and keeps the clutch in engagement regardless of the position of the bell crank lever 227.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows Lined dry cans are fed by means of any suitable conveyer mechanism (not shown) in an upright position in a single row between the guide rails 62 and onto the belt conveyer 63. This can feed belt conveyer will be driven continuously from belt 49 through belts 54 and 57 and chain 64.

Electrodes will be fed one at a time through the hollow tube 17 when the can is empty by the operation of the ratchet and pawl which moves the carrier ahead one space at a time and drops an electrode into the funnel and tube. The terminal is kept upward by the clip holding this end until after the lower end is released.

Starting with the parts of the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the electrodes and cans supplied as just set forth, the mechanism will be placed in operation by starting the driving mechanism for belt 49 and belt 150 which drives the reciprocating tamping mechanism 3. The details of the operation of this tamper are fully set forth in the Richmond Patent 641,546, but for purposes of explanation it maybe stated that the tamping stickc 130' are reciprocated continuously up and down and intermittently rotated.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the piston of the main cylinder 5 is in the lowest position and the projection 11 of the cross bar 10 is in engagement with the end of the lever 100 The end 105 of lever 100 is thus raised to compress spring 112 and the force of the spring transmitted to the lever 106 through the rod 111 and collar 111 raises the curved end 108 of lever 106 out of the slot 117 to release the key 116. The force of spring 115 applied to the end of the key forces it into one of the notches in the hub 113 of the pulley 99. Prior to lifting the lever 106 pulley 99 is rotated as an idler on shaft 96 by means of belts 49 and 98, but when the key 116 rides into one of the slots of the hub, the shaft rotates with the pulley because the key holding member 110 is splined onto the shaft.

During the first quarter revolution of shaft 96 the teeth extending over only onefourth of the surface of bevel gear 95 engage the teeth of bevel gear 94 and rotate shafts 91 and 46 through one-fourth revolution. The index disk 44 together with the can 48 which is fitted in one of the notches of the disk, is rotated through 90 to place the can directly under the tamping mechanism. The curved extension 68, the guard 68 and the back piece 42 of the tamping frame serve to hold the cell during this movement of the cell. After this one-fourth revolution of the index disk 44 rotation is stopped because the gear 95 is nutilated over the remainder of its circumference. The brake 100 takes up the momentum and loose play between shafts 46 and 91. While the can is being moved into position to be operated upon by the tamper, the cam 120 on shaft 96 is also rotated through 90, but as it has a surface concentric with the shaft the rod 119 of the valve piston is held stationary.

During the next quarter revolution of the shaft- 96 and cam 120 the piston of valve 6 is rapidly raisedand admits liquidto the hydraulic mechanism, thus applying pressure to raise the piston of the main cylinder 5 as described in my Patent 1,241,226.

As soon as the piston of main cylinder 5 and the piston rod 7 and projection 11 of cross bar 10 are raised slightly, lever 100 will be released and the end 105' will fall. The are shaped end 108 will then b.- forced into the groove 109 to place it in position for a purpose to beset forth hereafter.

After the cam 120 opens the valve the rod 119 rides on the third quarter and a portion of the fourth quarter of the surface which is concentric with the shaft and which maintains the valve open so that the piston of the main cylinder 5 together with the cancarriage 13, the can'48 now located thereon,

and the index disk 44 are all raised. The remainder of the revolution of the cam 120 is not necessary to raise the carriage to its highest point. but after it is raised further application of pressure produces no effect. At about the end of the revolution of the cam there is a sudden change from the large radius corresponding to pressure admission to a short radius corresponding to no pressure conditions, so that valve piston rod 119 suddenly drops to cutoff the pressure and establish hydraulic connections as described in my Patent 1,241,226. Just before the completion of one revolution of shaft 96 the point of the curved end 108 rides into the slot 117 of key 114 and as the shaft 96 and key rotate further the inclined surface of arm 108 withdraws the key thereby uncoupling pulley 99 from shaft 96. Brake 118 serves to stop the shaft quickly.

At about the upper limit of the movement of the back 42 of the carriage 13 it strikes the projection 39 and raises lever 33. The T shaped member 28 thereby engages pin 35 and rotates about point 30 to draw the rod 90 21 out into guide tube 19 and release the carbon above it. While rod 21 is being withdrawn rod 22 is forced in and holds back any carbons above it during the time that the pin 39 is in engagement with the back 42. Further upward movement is prevented by the stops 16" engaging plates 16'.

The mix is then fed from the hopper 161 into the can by the feeding mechanism in amanner which will be described separately. The mix feed is placed in operation when the projection 213 engages the pin 214 of pivoted lever 213, whereby the rod 217 is pulled down to place the mix feed clutch in operation. As the cell is tamped it is forced down against hydraulic pressure. As the carriage is descending, lever 37 drops back of its own weight, thus causing rod 21 to enter the tube. By means of the spring 25 the rod 22 is held against the carbons to retain them until the rod 21 is in position to hold back the carbons.

The mix feed is placed in operation when the carriage ascends in the following manner. The lug 248 (Fig. 14) of the carriage as it comes up will allow spring 249 (Fig. 2) to raise arm 247 and catch 245. Simultaneously stop 223 on rod 217 will be lowered as the carriage rises because it is on the opposite side of the pivot point of the counterweight lever. If the arm 221 has been held due to friction, the stop 222 will engage the block 218 and pull the lever 221 down so that the end 224 engages the arm 225 of the bell crank 226. The end 227 of holds the lever in, even whenthe direction of movement of rod 217 is reversed during tamping. The movement of lever 240 carries the rotating notched member 239 into engagement with the corresponding sta tionary member 231. lVhen the two parts of the clutch are in engagement the eccentric which is keyed to the sleeve 231 will be rotated, producing a reciprocating movement of the rod 187 which is connected to the eccentric by the ring 188 and crank 189 as described. A rocking movement is thus imparted to slide 162 which pushes mix into the inclined hopper 181.

The movement of shaft 187 also operates the mix pushers 206 which slide on the bottom of the hopper 181. Bell crank 195 is turned through a certain angle thus raising and lowering the lugs 199 which slide in the slot 198. Arm 200 and pin 207 will evidently be raised and lowered an amount corresponding with the vertical movement of the ends 197 of the bell crank 195. The movement of the mix pushers, however, is also dependent on the movement of the pins 211. On the first part of the up stroke of slide 200, the pin 207 will be raised until member 200 strikes the top of the pusher 206, the channel 201 and pins 211 meanwhile remaining stationary so that the rotation of pin 207 around pin 211 raises the front or mix engaging end of the pushers. The channel 201 is held against the outer channel 202 by the spring 203. During the remainder of the up stroke both pins 207 and 211 are raised so that theentire pusher is also raised. The force of spring 203 is not sufiicient to prevent the channel 201 from being raised by the positive force applied. On the first part of the down stroke the pins 211 and channel 201 are held stationary by the spring force while pin 207, member 200 and the front end of the mix pusher drop until the front end engages the bottom of the hopper when both the channel 201 and pin 211 are thus forced to descend with the member 200. The mix pusher is thus held firmly against the sloping sides and remains in the same position during most of the down stroke. The mix feed slide and pushers are thus set in operation.

As mix 1s fed into the can by the reciprocating action of slide 162 and mix pushers 206, it is compressed by the tamping sticks.

The can and carriage are gradually forced downward against the hydraulic pressure. As the tamping proceeds the hydraulic mechanism will operate as set forth in my Patent No. 1,211,226 and when the cell is completely tamped it will be rapidly lowered as also set forth therein.

lVhen the cell is being rapidly lowered the projection 72 on the back of the tamping platform strikes the inclined surface 71 of arm and moves the end 73 outward. Lever 74. is thereby turned around point 75 tion.

and the arm 74' is moved in the same direc- By means of the linkwork 79, 81, 85, 86, connected thereto and pivoted as described, the arm 79 will be moved in the opposite direction. The spreading apart of arms 79 and 74 allows the conveyer 63 to carry a can there through and deposit it in a notch of the index disk 14. The time during which the levers are spread apart is quite brief, as the engagement of projection 72 and arm 70 is short and spring 76 returns the arms immediately thereafter. Vheel 1 1 will prevent more than one can being fed, but the fingers will be closed before the wheel is turned to prevent cans from being fed underneath the wheel. The remaining cans are thus prevented from moving with the continuously moving conveyer.

When the can carriage again reaches the lowermost position of Figs. 1 and 2 the index disk will be rotated through another 90 to carry the tamped cell onto conveyer 57 which will remove the cell from the apparatus and may pass it on to other conveyers or apparatus for performing other operations. It will of course be understood that a can is fed to the disk at the same time the tamped cell is removed.

The can and electrode feeding mechanism may be cut out of operation at any time by pushing in the lever 123 whereby the slanting surface 126 forces down the lever 106 to hold the key 116 out of the slots of hub 113 until the operator is ready to begin tamping.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a reciprocating can carriage and tamping means separable as the mix is tamped in the can and in tamping relation when adjacent each other, an intermittently rotatable can carrier havingpockets for cans, a continuously moving conveyer cooperating with said pockets adapted to feed empty cans thereto, a retaining arm cooperating with the empty cans on said conveyer adapted to retain the cans thereon during the rotation of the can carrier and means operated by the can car-- riage adapted to move the arm to release a single can from the conveyer when the tamping means and can carriage are separated to deposit said can in one of said pockets.

2. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of tamping means, a vertically reciprocating can carriage separable from the tamping means as the mix is tamped in the can, an intermittently rotatable can carrier having a plurality of pockets cooperating with the can carriage and adapted to deliver cans to and simultaneously remove tamped cells from the. can carriage, a continuously'movable conveyer cooperating with the pockets in the can carrier adapted to feed empty cans thereto, a pair of retaining arms cooperating with the cans on said conveyer and means momentarily operated by said can carriage when the can carriage is lowered and connected to the arms adapted to release a single can from the conveyer and feed it to one of said ockets.

3. n apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of tamping means, a vertically reciprocating can carriage separable from the tamping means as the mix is tamped in the can, an intermittently rotatable disk cooperating with the can carriage and having a plurality of pockets for dry cell cans, a continuously moving conveyer for feeding empty cans to said pockets, a retaining arm for holding the cans on said conveyer during the period when a cell is being tamped, a connection for releasing said retaining arm to release a cell from the conveyer to one of said pockets when the can carriage is lowered, and a projection connected to the can carriage cooperating with said connection to periodically open said retaining means for a period suflicient to permit a single can to pass from the conveyer.

4. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of tampnig means, a vertically reciprocating can carriage separable from the tamping means as the mix is tamped in the can, an intermittently movable can carrier cooperating with the can carriage for feeding empty cans to and removing tamped cells therefrom, a continuously moving conveyer cooperating with the can carrier adapted to feed empty .cans thereto, a pair of pivoted retaining fingers cooperating with the cans on said conveyer, a projection on said can carriage adapted to operate said retaining fingers periodically when the can carriage is lowered to release a single can from the conveyer, and a spring for closing the retaining fingers after the can is released.

5. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a can carriage and tamping means vertically separable as the mix is tamped in the can and in tamping relation when adjacent each other, a plat form cooperating with said can carriage when separated from the tamping means, an intermittently rotatable can carrier having a plurality of pockets, said can carrier cooperating with the can carriage and platform for transferring can's from the platform to the can carriage, a continuously moving conveyer adapted to deposit cans in said pockets, a pair of pivoted retaining fingers cooperating with the cans on said conveyer and periodically operated by means connected with the can carriage, when the latter is separated from the tamping means to release cans from the conveyer and deposit them in said pockets, said retaining fingers being closed when the can carrier is rotated, and guideways surrounding the can carrier for maintaining the cans in said pockets during the rotation of the can carrier.

6. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cells, the combination of tamping means, a table adapted to be moved into and out of cooperative relation to the tamping means, and a can carrier adapted to move cans onto and off of said table, said can carrier being arranged to move with said table and maintain its relation thereto while so moving.

7. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cells, the combination of tamping means, a table adapted to be moved into and out of cooperative relation to the tamping means, and an intermittently operable can carrier adapted to move cans onto and off of said table, said can carrier being arranged to move with said table and maintain its relation thereto while so moving.

8. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cells, the combination of tamping means, a table adapted to be moved into and out of cooperative relation to the tamping means, an intermittently operable can carrier adapted to move cans onto and off of said table said can carrier being arranged to move with said table and maintain its relation thereto while so movin and conveying means cooperating with the can carrier when the latter is moved out of tamping position.

9. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a reciprocating can carriage and tamping means separable as the mix is tamped in the can, a movable can carrier for feeding cans to and removing tamped cells from the can carriage, said can carrier being connected to and reciprocating with the can carriage and having a plurality of pockets adapted to be placed in cooperative relation to the tamping means and conveying means cooperating with the can carrier when the tamping means is separated therefrom.

10. In apparatus for tainping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a can carriage, tamping means having a passageway therethrough, said tamping means being separable from the can carriage as the mix is tamped in the cans, a tube having a passageway therein connected with said passageway in the tamping means, a catch cooperating with the tube for supporting electrodes therein and a member cooperating with the can carriage adapted to operate said catch to release an electrode when the can carriage approaches the tampin means.

11. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a can carriage and tamping means separable as the mix is tamped in the can, said tamping means having a passageway therethrough, a receptacle containinga supply of electrodes, a conveyer cooperating with the receptacle adapted to remove electrodes therefrom, and a member having a passageway connected to the passageway in the tamping means and cooperating with the conveyer adapted to deposit an electrode in the passageway.

12. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a reciprocating can carriage, tamping means having a passageway therethrough for an electrode, a tube, having a passageway therethrough connected with the passageway in the tamping means, a hopper for electrodes, a conveyer engaging the electrodes in'the hopper adapted to remove said electrodes therefrom and deposit them in the tube and a pair of reciprocating retaining fingers cooperating with said tube adapted to release a single electrode from the tube and permit it to be deposited through said passageway into a can on said carriage when the can carriage and tamping means approach.

13. In'apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a. can carriage and tamping means separable as the mix is tamped in the can and in tamping relation when adjacent each other, said tamping means having a passageway therethrough, a tube having a passageway cooperating with the passageway in the tamping means, said tube having an enlarged portion at the upper end, a hopper containing a supply of electrodes, a conveyer adapted to remove electrodes from said hopper and deposit them in the enlarged portion of the tube, a retaining finger for supporting electrodes in the tube, said retaining finger being movable to release an electrode from the tube to deposit it in the passageway of the tamping means.

1 1. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a can carrier and tamping means, said tamping means having a passageway therethrough, a receptacle for electrodes, a conveyer adapted to remove electrodes from said receptacle, a tube having a passageway and an enlarged end cooperating with said conveyer adapted to receive electrodes therefrom and in alinement with the passageway in the tamping means and a mix feed adapted to deposit mix in said can around the electrode.

15. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, a can carriage and tamping means, a hopper containing a supply of mix, a mix feeder adapted to feed mix into a can, a reciprocating slide cooperating with the walls of the hopper adapted to loosen mix adhering thereto. and a movable mix'conveyer cooperating with the hopper adapted to convey mix to the mix feeders.

16. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, a can carriage, tamping means,

j a' mix hopper, a slide cooperating with the hopper adapted to feed mix therefrom into the can and a second slide cooperating with the walls of the hopper for loosening mix therefrom.

17. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a can carriage and tamping means, a mix hopper having an inclined bottom, a reciprocating slide cooperating with the bottom of the hopper adapted to feed mix therefrom into the can and a second slide cooperating with the inclined bottom adapted to loosen mix there from.

18. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a can carriage and tamping means vertically separable as the mix is tamped in the can, a mix feeder cooperating with said tamping means and can when the can carriage and tamping means are adjacent, a movable can carrier cooperating with the can carriage adapted to simultaneously remove a tamped-cell therefrom and deliver an empty can thereto and a member connected to the can carriage and cooperating with the can carrier adapted to control the movements thereof.

19. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a can carriage and tamping means separable as the mix is tamped in the can, an intermittently rotatable'can carrier having four pockets cooperating with said can carriage adapted to deliver cansthereto, a conveyer cooperating with. said pockets for delivering cans thereto, a second conveyer cooperating with said pockets for removing tamped cells therefrom, said tamping means having a passageway therethrough, a substantially vertically hollow tube having a passageway connected with the passageway in said tamping means and having an enlarged portion at its upper end, a hopper containing a supply of electrodes, a third'conveyer cooperating with the hopper adapted to remove electrodes therefrom and deposit them in the enlarged portion of the funnel, a mix feeder cooperating with a can and with the tamping means, means for releasing an electrode from said passageway whereby it is deposited in the can, said can carrier being movable when the can carriage is separated from the tamping means, and said mix feeder being operative when the tamping means and can carriage are adjacent.

20. In apparatus for tamping mix in dry cell cans, the combination of a vertically reciprocating can carrier, having a plurality of pockets for the cans, a conveyer co operating therewith for depositing cans in said pockets, a second conveyer cooperating with the can carrierfor removing tamped cells therefrom, tamping means having a passageway therethrough, a hollow tube having a passageway connected with the passageway in the tube, a hopper containing a supply of electrodes, a. third conveyer passwhen the can carriage is raised and means ing through the hopper adapted to remove cooperating with the can carriage adapted electrodes therefrom and deposit them in the to rapidly lower the same when the can is 10 tube, a mix feeder cooperating with the tamped to a sufiicient height.

tamping means and can, a movable catch In testimony whereof, I hereunto aifix my cooperating with the passageway in the tube signature.

adapted to release an electrode therefrom HENRY T. LANG. 

